If anyone can help, please contact John Hornkohl at TFS Technologies, Inc. (505-856-1480) directly. Thanks!!!
From: Joe Perkins (TAC Missileers Executive Director)
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013
To: Russ Reston
Subject: FW: Matador Missile Shelters
Russ can you put this on the web site for anyone that can help the people out. Joe
From: Charlie Simpson (Association of Air Force Missileers)
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013
To: Joe Perkins
Subject: Fwd: Matador Missile Shelters
Joe – any of your folks any help on this? He is looking for info to restore these Matador shelters
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Matador Missile Shelters
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:42:40 -0600
From: John Hornkohl (TFS Technologies, Inc.)
To: Charlie Simpson (Association of Air Force Missileers)
Charlie:
Please see the attached letter and photos.
John Hornkohl
TFS Technologies, Inc.
505-856-1480
TFS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PO BOX 91928
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87199-1928
PHONE: 505-856-1480
EMAIL: sales@tfstechnologies.com
WEB: tfstechnologies.com
SERVING THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
August 14, 2013
Charlie Simpson
AF Missileers
Charlie:
Thank-you for calling me back regarding the tracking and guidance shelters for the Matador missile system. I had rented these shelters to one of the major movie studios, and they were then damaged in a flash flood. I am including the contract information, serial numbers, and before and after photos of the two shelters. I am looking for two estimates regarding these shelters. The first estimate would be for restoring the shelters to the original condition in which I had them before the flood. The second estimate would be for their current replacement value taking into account their antique or historical value as well. I hope you can refer me to someone who can provide the estimates.
The two shelters were manufactured by Oneida in May and September of 1955. I purchased the shelters almost 20 years ago, but have not been able to find any comparable ones currently in existence. One of the shelters is the radar set and the other is the radio set. I found a few photos at the TAC Missileers site. Photo #2 at this web address shows identical shelters mounted on the back of 2 ½ ton trucks at Patrick Air Force Base in 1957: https://www.tacmissileers.org/photos/member-albums/ances/ The radar dish was stored inside the shelter and raised through a roof access door to the operating position. All of the radar hardware and communication equipment was removed from the shelters before I purchased them. Three shelters were used in a tracking and guidance Matador operation. The third shelter was a plotting system for the flight. These photos show all three sometime in the 1950’s: https://www.tacmissileers.org/photos/member-albums/marty-spargos-601st-tcs-notes-new-3302010/ Image 10 on this page: https://www.tacmissileers.org/photos/member-albums/ances/ Here are some images from Taiwan in the 50’s: See image 8,10,15,17,18 https://www.tacmissileers.org/photos/member-albums/doug-jones/
Here are the data and contract numbers for my shelters:
Manufacturers’ Tags mounted on the rear of each unit –
1st Unit with the least damage
Tag#1
Shelter Electrical Equipment
S116/MPS-19
Stock# 5450-331-7414
Serial# 109
Part# 136298
Contract# AF33(600)-18601
Manufactured for Reeves Instrument Corp. NY, NY
Tag#2
Radar Set
AN/MPS-19
Close Support Control Set AN/MSQ-1A
Stock#1800-023860163
Serial# 109
Part# 132900
Contract AF33(600)-18601
Manufactured by Melpar Inc for Reeves Instrument Corporation
Tag#3
Oneida Products
Canastota, NY
Model# 6600-1
Serial# 2004R
Mfg. 5-17-55
Tag#4
Air Conditioner
HD-224/MPS-19
Stock# 1800-020146000
Serial# 109
Part# 146267
AF 33(600)-18601
Manufactured by KECO Industries for Onieda
Prime Contractor Reeves Instrument Corp.
2nd Unit with the most damage
Tag#1
Shelter Electrical Equipment
S115/MRC-45
Stock# 5450-141-3283
Serial# 142
Part# 136300
Contract# AF30(635)-692
Manufactured for Melpar Inc. Falls Church VA
Tag#2
Radio Set
AN/MRC-45
Close Support Control Set AN/MSQ-1A
Stock#1760-048575074
Serial# 142
Part# 141850
Contract AF30(635)-692
Manufactured by Melpar Inc for Oneida Products Corp.
Tag#3
Oneida Products
Canastota, NY
Model# 6600-3
Serial# 2012CM
Mfg. 9-26-55
Tag#4
Air Conditioner
HD-238/MRC-45
Stock# 4120-203-0798
Serial# 142
Part# 146268
AF 30(635)-692
Manufactured by KECO Industries for Onieda
Prime Contractor Melpar Inc.
I don’t believe they would have produced more than 300 of these shelters since there were only 1200 Matadors produced in the 50’s. I have attached before and after photos of each of my shelters. I have more photos for anyone that might provide estimates.
Let me know what other information you might need.
Thanks
John Hornkohl
President
TFS Technologies, Inc.
